THE Rotary Club tent was buzzing with important local topics — from the latest on the expansion of Launceston Medical Centre, to ending the polio disease with a new storybook for children.

Joan Heaton, chairwoman of the Launceston Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG), was on hand to tell show-goers about the plans for the expansion of the medical centre, which is exciting news and a long-time-coming for many.

Joan said: “Today we’re hoping people will come and ask us questions about the medical centre. I must say thank you to the Rotary club for letting us spread the message here today, which is kind of tying in with the medical centre.

“We’re all working together now — including Age UK and the voluntary services. The medical centre is up and running, although we haven’t started digging yet.”

The expansion has been five years’ in the planning, undergoing many complex negotiations to get to this point. The new wing at the back of the medical centre will be two-storeys high with all consulting rooms remaining on the ground floor. The extra space means that more doctors will be available to patients and there will be further training facilities for staff, including the addition of a trainee doctor. To accompany this, there will be additional car parking, more consulting rooms, admin space, a new road linking the car parks, a new one-way system for the entrance and exit, a meeting room and an additional waiting area.

Joan added: “I’m just delighted that it is finally happening. We can’t wait for it to take shape and will be watching the progression closely.

“It will be built from the hospital side. It shouldn’t disrupt the surgery. Parking will double and there will be a new one-way system, as there is now. The medical centre are also recruiting for lots of staff.

“Today we are just doing our bit in getting it out and putting ourselves out there!”

As well as this, people were able to find out more about the Launceston Rotary Club and its work in helping to eliminate polio around the world. Helping this cause is Rotary member Sandra Maizels with her book ‘Dear Dragon’ — a new children’s story raising money and awareness towards their aim.

Sandra said: “I have recently launched this little book, raising money for End Polio Now. Thirty years ago, there were 350,000 cases every year, today there is 22 in the whole world. This commonly occurs in countries who won’t let health workers in and misunderstood their help, thinking they were going to be sterilised.

“Theresa May (former UK Prime Minister) recently paid tribute to the work the Rotary has been doing.

“Since it launched at the Victorian Market (in Launceston), 2,000 children have been immunised with the proceeds of the book. As it involves and appeals to the younger generation, children are helping other children.”